US report angers China, Russia

FLESH TRADE:Moscow and Beijing reacted with indignation after a US Department of State report said they did as little as Iran and North Korea to stop human trafficking

Reuters, WASHINGTON

“The question for the White House is whether they’re prepared to execute the sanctions,” he said. “The question for China, Russia and Uzbekistan is whether they’re prepared to make commitments in the next 90 days to avoid those sanctions.”

Despite pledges to combat such crimes, countries have failed to identify tens of millions of victims, according to the report, which ranked 188 countries and territories.

Just 40,000 victims of “modern slavery” were identified last year among the estimated 27 million men, women and children who are held against their will globally, the report said.

“Despite a growing body of knowledge about victims and their needs, finding them remains a tremendous challenge,” officials wrote in this year’s Trafficking in Persons Report.

Most victims were women and girls, although many men and boys were also affected.

Human trafficking practices can range from prostitution to forced labor among migrants or domestic servitude — and children also can be victims.

US President Barack Obama last year pledged to step up the US’ effort to target trafficking.